Prestressed Concrete Pipe Field Test

Abstract: Strain changes in the prestressing wires and deflections of a 2130-mm-diameter precast (embedded cylinder), prestressed concrete pipe were measured during earth backfilling operations. The purpose of the test program was to determine how well strains and deflections that were calculated - using the Bureau of Reclamation method of analysis for calculating earth loads on concrete pipe - compared with measured strains and deflection in a field installation. Measured strains were less than the calculated strains. An alternate method of calculating the earth loads and resulting strains gave a better comparison.